Ravens — and Super Bowl parties — still talked about [Rodgers Forge]

The Ravens — our champions! They are still topics of discussion as are those Super Bowl parties.

Mary Lee and Dick Hilgartner divided their time between parties. They had great fun with friends from St. Pius X, out in Phoenix, for the first half and a happy time with each other at home, in Rodgers Forge, for the second half due to an early call on Monday morning.

Kristy and Pete Knuppel and children (Lindsey, Emmy and Augie) had a front yard tailgate party on Jan. 29 with fellow Gaywoodites, Ira and Dawn Katz (Cole, Landon and Blake), Tom and Sasha Harris (Oscar and Marin), Adam and Donna Beck (Jordan and Sarah).

"We had lots of fun and lots of "high Flacco-fives," Kristy assured us. She added that she and Pete put the same Ravens Superbowl hand-drawn sign up on their front door from the Superbowl XXXV party (year they were married) for good luck and it worked!

The exciting Patriot and Defender Program at Rodgers Forge Elementary School kicks off in March with the school's fifth-grade students leading the way. Study, knowledge and recitations will mark the six-week program as the students learn more about America's illustrious history. The school plans to get the entire school to partcipate in the 2013-2014 school year.

Parent involvement is crucial to this program's success. Meetings for interested parent volunteers takes place Feb. 28 at 8:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. Each lasts only 15 minutes.

The Maryland State Assessment tests are also on the calendar for Rodgers Forge students. Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders will be tested on reading and math, with fifth-graders only being tested in science.

Morning news at Rodgers Forge is lively, entertaining and very informative as the Third Quarter News Crew takes the microphone. The team of Doyle McNew, Liam Brennan-Samele, Neale Mercer, Sophie Black, Lucy Polsky and Hazel Gao certainly has a lot of spirit.

Young readers, did you know that the Internet has many sites that are filled with interesting books? Well, Dumbarton Middle School has located the sources of these free e-books:

Baltimore County Public Library: http://catalog.bcpl.lib.md.us/polaris/

Dumbarton's Principal Kelly Erdman tells us that in addition to the security precautions at the school, Dumbarton also conducts drills throughout the school year. These drills provide training and are conducted as follows: fire drill- monthly; severe weather drill-bi-annually; and evacuation drills-bi-annually. In addition, all students are strongly encouraged to talk with a teacher, counselor or administrator at Dumbarton, if they ever feel unsafe.

Motorists are asked to observe "No Parking" signs on Dumbarton Road as ticketing by police is in full force. Parents, please don't enter the bus loop during the morning drop-off, from 8:45-9:00 a.m.

"Munchkins for Moms" at St. Pius X School will take place on March 7 from 8:05-10:20 a.m. This annual event is a festive time for all and eagerly anticipated by them.

The St. Pius first- and second-graders coordinated the school Ash Wednesday Prayer Service and did a top-notch job, School Principal Maggie Dates was impressed and grateful to Nikki Filling and Kathy Mays, who worked with the children on this event.

During Lent, Ascension Lutheran Church has worship services every Wednesday (Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20) at: noon in the chapel — a 30-minute service based on the hymn "Beneath the Cross of Jesus"; and at 7 p.m. in the nave-evening prayers with chancel dramas.